Ipad from US

[Dan17]

The wife is after the new ipad pro. We have a friend going to New York later this year and were thinking of asking him to buy the model she wants and bring it back.

Has anyone done this before (sure they have!)? Are there any issues with warranty, customs etc.?

Thanks in advance.

[ecsrobin]

Dan17 said:

The wife is after the new ipad pro. We have a friend going to New York later this year and were thinking of asking him to buy the model she wants and bring it back.

Has anyone done this before (sure they have!)? Are there any issues with warranty, customs etc.?

Thanks in advance.

New York has the sales tax of 8.875% to add on to the ticket price, if customs stop them it would be an additional 20% so then almost the RRP of a UK device.

The big one though is this:

apple said:

IMPORTANT RESTRICTION FOR iPHONE, iPAD, APPLE TV and HOMEPOD SERVICE.
Apple may restrict warranty service for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and HomePod to the country where Apple or its Authorized Distributors originally sold the device.

[NDA]

Risky for warranty, risky for VAT declaration, is it risky for voltage?

Whilst vaguely tempting, I wouldn't.

[x5tuu]

I have bought lots of Apple devices in the US, UK and Asia and had them serviced in areas outside of the region bought without any issue at all.

Latest example of this being an iphone 13PM that was bought in the UK and replaced under warranty in Florida after it went totally unresponsive.

No way does anyone get stopped at customs and questioned about an iPad - talk about fear-mongering - Ive bought probably 15 iPads for friends and family in the US in recent years and brought them back to the UK with zero issues.

The saving wont be massive but it will still be a saving (even with sales tax)

There are no differences that would be of consequence on a iPad - go for it.

[wyson]

Won’t cellular models have a different radio?

[x5tuu]

NDA said:

Risky for warranty, risky for VAT declaration, is it risky for voltage?

Whilst vaguely tempting, I wouldn't.

Apple International Warranty: https://store.apple.com/Catalog/Images/worldwidewa...

VAT: zero risk

Voltage: ??? you dont even get plugs with Apple devices, just a USB cable - zero issue

[x5tuu]

wyson said:

Won’t cellular models have a different radio?

No, all 5G / LTE

[wyson]

I’d ditch the box and manuals just incase. I got quizzed trying to bring back 3k worth of camera equipment from Hong Kong. My body language must have been suspect walking through the nothing to declare channel!

One of my uncles was stopped, brought back a ton of designer clothing. He wanted to dish them out as gifts, so didn’t cut the tags off. They made him pay all the relevant taxes, he was pretty annoyed.

My friend’s dad was caught with new golf clubs when he came back from a golfing trip in Florida.

So while getting stopped by customs is low risk, it isn’t no risk.

Edited by wyson on Thursday 5th September 12:12

[ecsrobin]

x5tuu said:

Apple International Warranty: https://store.apple.com/Catalog/Images/worldwidewa...

VAT: zero risk

Voltage: ??? you dont even get plugs with Apple devices, just a USB cable - zero issue

Interesting that there are different warranties? This one says no?

https://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/products/ios-...

[ecsrobin]

x5tuu said:

No way does anyone get stopped at customs and questioned about an iPad - talk about fear-mongering

No one was fear mongering. The words “if” and “risky” were used. Because whilst it rarely happens people do get stopped as the above poster mentions.

[SV_WDC]

OP, for anything cellular you need to take a look at the cellular band list here.

Apple sell 3 different versions of each model, based on the regional location of the phone. All cover different radio bands.

It is possible there are differences for the iPad too

https://www.apple.com/uk/iphone/cellular/

[ecsrobin]

SV_WDC said:

OP, for anything cellular you need to take a look at the cellular band list here.

Apple sell 3 different versions of each model, based on the regional location of the phone. All cover different radio bands.

It is possible there are differences for the iPad too

https://www.apple.com/uk/iphone/cellular/

The iPad LTE bands are different based on country. US and UK use different bands (same as iPhone)

https://www.apple.com/uk/ipad/cellular/networks/#i...

[eeLee]

It could work, I don't know if you think it will be cheaper but as pointed out, US prices don't include sales tax. Factor that in.
The warranty would be honoured at Apple at a store but for one year; most of Europe gets 2 years.
I did this for an iPhone 7+ in San Francisco specifying I wanted a European model, I part-exed that phone in Zürich at Apple for a great trade-in on a X. Price difference was negligible but the $ is weaker now.
I see little issue with import duty, everyone is travelling with these things - don't keep the box.....

[4Q]

ecsrobin said:

x5tuu said:

Apple International Warranty: https://store.apple.com/Catalog/Images/worldwidewa...

VAT: zero risk

Voltage: ??? you dont even get plugs with Apple devices, just a USB cable - zero issue

Interesting that there are different warranties? This one says no?

https://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/products/ios-...

if you buy in the UK/EU you get 2 years warranty rather than the 12 months you get with their std worldwide warranty.

[Dan17]

Thanks all.

I think we'll get it here (in UK) having read through those responses.

John Lewis at £1299 for the 12.9", 2024 model seems the best price I can find unless anyone can suggest otherwise..?

[Tony1963]

Dan17 said:

Thanks all.

I think we'll get it here (in UK) having read through those responses.

John Lewis at £1299 for the 12.9", 2024 model seems the best price I can find unless anyone can suggest otherwise..?

That looks like the same as the Apple Store price.
Would you consider a refurb from Apple?

[ecsrobin]

Dan17 said:

Thanks all.

I think we'll get it here (in UK) having read through those responses.

John Lewis at £1299 for the 12.9", 2024 model seems the best price I can find unless anyone can suggest otherwise..?

Check employee rewards programmes / blue light card / defence discount / student discount. I get a discount at John Lewis and apple (think John Lewis works out cheaper)

[Dan17]

Tony1963 said:

That looks like the same as the Apple Store price.
Would you consider a refurb from Apple?

I had a refurb phone once and the battery didn't last, once bitten and all that. Not sure there's any around actually though, new model..?

[Dan17]

ecsrobin said:

Check employee rewards programmes / blue light card / defence discount / student discount. I get a discount at John Lewis and apple (think John Lewis works out cheaper)

Thanks, I'll look into that.

[Muzzer79]

I bought an iPad in Florida a few years back.

Decent saving on UK cost and never had an issue charging, using or repairing it.

wyson said:

I’d ditch the box and manuals just incase.

This